Wretch 32: Black and White – review

Saturday 20 August 2011 19.04 EDT
First published on Saturday 20 August 2011 19.04 EDT

The UK rappers (Tinie, Dizzee et al) who rap about having fun are successful. Pensive rappers – Roots Manuva, say – tend not to get the hits, however sublime their wordplay. In between are MCs like Wretch 32, one of the nimbler wordsmiths to come out of Tottenham (or, as he puts it: "I raise the bar/ Pole vault/ It's rap athletics"). A grime mixtape veteran, Jermaine Scott combines plenty of chart-friendly tracks on his mainstream debut ("Traktor" and "Unorthodox" have already been hits) with just enough erudite self-examination ("Forgiveness") to warrant more than a passive listen.